FEBRUARY 13, 2019
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THE POLK COUNTY 1168 Hwy 71 S • Mena, AR 71953 • 479-243-9600
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Mena A&P proposes stage for Janssen Park By Jamie Hammack A stage at Janssen Park was discussed in committee last Thursday at Mena City Hall. The proposed permanent stage would face northward near the springhouse and sit in what could be called a natural amphitheater in the northwest portion of the park. The stage would serve a great purpose during the annual Lum and Abner Festival during which it would be used for award ceremonies for the car show, announcements and live music. Marketing Director for Mena Advertising and Promotion, Ashley Smith, said outside of the festival the stage could see many different uses like music festivals, outdoor movies in the park, political rallies, theater productions, ceremonies, and various other events. She also said that having such a facility would help attract more popular music acts to the Lum and Abner Festival. In fact, music plays a large part in the festival history. In its beginning in 1977 the
festival showcased live music nightly and attracted up to 200 people to hear country and bluegrass music. By the mid 80’s the festival lasted a full four weeks with two bands playing every night. By viewing the schematic of the stage it would be built in a way to add to the feel of the park and would have a period look to it that would lend itself well with the log cabin that was built on the grounds in 1851. Committee member James Earl Turner said, “I’d like for people to drive by and see the stage and think, how’d they build that over 100 years ago”. Judging by the plans of the stage it would meet those expectations. The projected cost for the stage is listed at $30,000 to $50,000. Smith told The Pulse that the Mena A&P pays upwards of $6,000 to $8,000 annually for a stage and sound company to set up for the festival. By having a permanent stage in Janssen Park, and taking an average of $6,000 in set up
-See Stage, continued pg. 3
Mena Art Gallery Selling Chance on an Original Tyrone Lewis Oil Painting As a memorial to the late Mena native, Tyrone Lewis (1938 - 2013), SouthWest Artists, Inc. and the Mena Art Gallery will be raffling off one of the last paintings done by Tyrone. The painting is truly an
appreciable investment as a collectors piece. Tickets may be purchased at the Mena Art Gallery and Mena Chamber of
-See Painting, continued pg. 6
Accident and Fatality under investigation According to a press release from the Polk County Sheriffs Office, on Monday, February 11,2019, at approximately 10:40 am, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office responded to a one vehicle accident on Hwy 375 East, just outside Mena. The vehicle, a 2007 Chrysler Town & Coun-
try mini-van, left the roadway and went into Prairie Creek. The van traveled approximately 60 yards down the flooded creek before coming to a rest in the middle of the creek.
-See Accident, continued pg. 6
Officials Revise Environmental Assessment of Quartz Proposal Ouachita National Forest officials are expected to release a revised Environmental Assessment by the end of March on a proposal to mine quartz from an area of the national forest, located just north of Mount Ida. The proposed mine would be an open pit mine where all vegetation and top soil is removed from the area to be mined. A full 21 acres. Friends of the Ouachita Trail are opposed to such mining in the national forest for several reasons, one being because at one point the mine would be located a mere 150 feet from the Ouachita Trail, the premier hiking trail in this part of the United States. Adjustments will be made to the environmental assessment taking into account public input after the 30-day comment period. Once completed, the public will be provided another chance to comment on the proposal of mining in the national forest. In a press release by the U.S. Depart-
ment of Agriculture Mena-Oden Distric Ranger Tim Oosterhous “I want to thank the public for their input on the initial Environmental Assessment we released in
-See Quartz, continued pg. 5
pens February 14 at the Mena Mountain Resort for Special Valentine’s Day performance. Call 394-3110 for tickets.
Performances at OLT on February 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, 24.
Friday & Saturday shows 7:30 PM - Sundays 2:30 PM
Tickets at OLT Office